active Private Grant

Walmart Local Community Grant Program

Not a grant for standalone small businesses. This program is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government/public agencies (schools, libraries, fire departments) — walmart.org states non-charities are not eligible. A for-profit small business cannot receive this grant. Looking for a grant your business can apply to directly? See our verified corporate small-business grant alternatives.

Walmart Foundation

$250–$5,000

See if you qualify — free Visit official program ↗

Researched for this program: 8 rejection traps · 8 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓

The short version

Local Walmart store community grants for nonprofits

This grant is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofit-affiliated organizations only — standalone for-profit businesses are not eligible. Walmart's Local Community Grant Program awards $250 to $5,000 grants to nonprofits and community organizations in communities where Walmart stores operate. Individual Walmart stores accept applications from local nonprofits in their geographic area. Applications are accepted annually at the local store level.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Private
Amount range: $250 – $5,000
Realistic amount: $1,000–$5,000 for most recipients in typical markets
Deadline: Three application cycles in FY27 (Walmart's fiscal year): Feb 1 – Apr 15, May 1 – Jul 15, Aug 1 – Dec 31. The current cycle closes December 31, 2026. Apply through a Spark Good account on walmart.com/nonprofits.
Status: active
States: Nationwide
Payment model: lump sum

Who qualifies

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OR government entity (schools, libraries, fire departments, etc.)
Located within the service area of a participating Walmart or Sam's Club store
Programs must focus on areas Walmart prioritizes: education, workforce development, health and wellness, or hunger relief
Not a political organization or lobbying group
Must apply through the Walmart Benevity online portal (not in-store)

Hard requirements

Must be incorporated
Must be a registered 501(c)(3)

Is the Walmart Local Community Grant legit?

Yes. Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers give these local grants every year at no cost to apply. They go to nonprofits, schools and local government, not to for-profit businesses.

Who runs it: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, through local stores and clubs
Cost to apply: None
How winners are paid: Electronic payment through JP Morgan
To apply: A Spark Good account verified by Deed

Sources: walmart.org · page 2. Last checked at the funder on October 18, 2026.

Past Walmart Local Community Grant winners

Two recent recipients reported in local press:

The EMpact One Foundation, Benton, Arkansas · Announced February 2, 2026
St. Vincent de Paul Society (Sterling/Rock Falls), Sterling, Illinois · Posted May 8, 2026

Names as published by local press (source). GrantCompass is not affiliated with local press.

New grants like this every week: see this week's list or get it by email on Mondays.

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Nonprofit program operating costs
Community event or program costs
Equipment and supplies for approved programs
Personnel directly supporting the funded program

Ineligible expenses

Individual scholarships or financial assistance to individuals
Political campaigns or lobbying
Endowments or capital campaigns
Debt repayment
For-profit business expenses

How to apply

1

Confirm your organization qualifies

You must be a 501(c)(3) or a government entity (schools, libraries, fire departments, etc.). For-profit businesses are NOT eligible for the Local Community Grant.

~1 hrs
2

Identify your nearest participating Walmart store

Visit walmart.benevity.org and enter your zip code to find participating stores in your area.

~1 hrs
3

Create an account and complete the application

Complete the organization profile and program description on the Benevity portal. Describe the specific program or project and its community impact.

~1 hrs
4

Submit supporting documents

Upload your 501(c)(3) determination letter and a current board list. Some stores may request additional financials.

~1 hrs
5

Local store review

The local store manager and a store committee review applications and notify recipients. Timeline varies by store.

~1 hrs

Insider tip

Building a relationship with your local store's community manager before applying significantly improves odds. Grants targeting Walmart's priority areas (hunger relief, education, health) score better.

Deadline & timing

Walmart processes local community grant applications year-round (February through December). However, individual stores have limited annual budgets that can be exhausted — applying earlier in the year generally improves odds. The Benevity portal lists participating stores and their current availability.

Applications are open — don’t lose the window

GrantCompass tracks Walmart Local Community Grant Program’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.

Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.

Related programs

Also open right now

Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on November 1, 2026 — all 170 open grant programs · filter the database.

Explore more funding

All 660+ US funding programs

Last updated October 22, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.